THE Department of Agriculture is optimistic that rice prices will ease due to the upcoming harvest season and the assurance from Vietnam to supply rice to the Philippines, 

“Ang maganda kasi ngayon nag-start na ang harvest, diba? Then, sa March at Abril magpi-peak, so we can expect na bababa rin ng konti pagdating ng harvest season... nag-commit ang Vietnam sa biyahe ni presidente,” DA Asec. Arnel de Mesa.

“They committed at least 2.5 million metric tons kahit may El Niño at ibang kalamidad so at least assured tayo," De Mesa said.

Earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated that rice prices could remain high in the coming months.

“Kasi sa world market mataas ang presyo... kung patuloy na ganito ang presyo dahil may base tayo, ang expectation natin ay magkakaroon tayo ng rice inflation sa mga bandang 20% o mas mataas hanggang Hulyo," said PSA Usec. Dennis Mapa.